Cat Water Bowls That Won’t Tip Over

Whether it’s pushing things off counters and watching them fall or zooming around the house and attacking anything that dangles cats are pretty much experts at keeping themselves entertained. 

Sometimes that includes a good splash around the water bowl or even tipping it over entirely. 

Why do they do this? 

Because it’s fun!

(At least for your cat). 

For us pet owners it means a lot of clean up, wet feet, and possibly ruined hardwood floors. 

My cat Debbie hasn’t flipped her bowl since we upgraded (number three on the list) but she still enjoys a good splash before she drinks. Many cats simply prefer some movement in their water which is why you’ll sometimes see cats make an extra effort to drink from sink even with a perfectly good bowl of water available to them. 

Luckily, you’ve got a lot of options when it comes to finding cat water bowls that won’t tip over. And if your cat just likes to splash around a bit, we’ve also got some no spill bowls on the list too. Overall, we’ve reviewed 4 no tipcat bowls that fall into a variety of categories. 

If you just want to see which ones made the list, you can check out our favorites here:

1. Best Overall: URPOWER Stainless Steel Bowl with No Spill Mat 
2. Best on a Budget: Ethical Stoneware Crock Dish
3. Best Unflippable Fountain: Catit Flower Water Fountain
4. Best Tip-Proof Elevated Bowl: Necoichi Raised Stress-Free Cat Water Bowl

Let’s get started!

Splashers vs Flippers

Is your cat a splasher, a flipper…or both? 

In other words, does your cat make a mess by splashing her water, does she completely flip the bowl over or does she do both? 

We’ve selected water bowls for all types so be sure to check and make sure that the water bowl you’re looking at matches what you need. 

What Makes A Spill Proof Cat Water Bowl?

There’s no one simple solution to make a cat water bowl that won’t tip over. Cats are pretty ingenious and have a lot of time on their hands to figure out how to flip the latest water bowl. As a result, manufacturers have come up with a lot of ways to make a bowl actually spill proof. 

Here are a few of the ways: 

Heavy Cat Water Bowls

Some water bowls go for pure weight to make sure they’re unflippable. For example, the ceramic bowl from Ethical (number two on our list) weighs in at 3.3 pounds which is hefty enough to prevent even the most talented bowl flippers. 

Shape

Other bowls will opt to prevent flipping by using a special grip at the bottom or a wide base. These bowls will still allow splashers to make a mess but prevent the bowl from being flipped

Bowls With A Base

There’s also a lot of bowls on the market that hold the bowl securely in a base. While these can prevent flips and tips, we prefer bowls that can be separated from the location of the food. Royal Canin studied the water drinking habits of domestic house cats and found that most cats prefer their water source to be in a different location as compared to their food. 

How We Reviewed These Water Bowls

We carefully reviewed each product on that market and found that there were only FOUR that made the cut with each representing a different category or style of water bowl. The categories including: 

• Bowls with base and mat
• Simple heavy cat water bowls
• Feline water fountain
• Elevated water bowl

We’d love to include more, but if you’re really looking for a cat water bowl that won’t tip over these your best options!

Each weight is listed and the lightest bowl here is 15oz. Pay careful attention to the weight of the bowl!

We’ve seen some sites include bowls that weigh 3-4oz. I don’t know about you but if I gave my little cat 3 minutes with a four-ounce bowl I’d have a kitchen full of water! We’ve looked at the reviews available for each on sites like Amazon and Chewy. You’ll find that all of these bowls have excellent reviews. 

So let’s officially get started with our first selection!

#1 URPOWER Dog Bowls Stainless Steel Dog Bowl with No Spill Non-Skid Silicone Mat 

Don’t be fooled! Even though this product has “dog” in the name it’s absolutely perfect for your cat!

In fact, it’s our number pick because it works so great for cats that like to splash water OR cats that like to flip their bowls. 

This is the first on our list that features the bowl-with-a-base style. Here’s how it works: you get two simple stainless steel bowls that fit perfectly into a no-slip (and no flip) silicone base. 

Not only does the clean-looking silicone base prevent your kitty from flipping the bowls it also acts as a placemat to protect your floor and keep kibble from getting all over the place. In fact, between the wide base, the non-skid material, and the weight of whatever you have in the bowls, I”d be VERY impressed if any cat was able to flip this. 

Pros

• The silicone base protects your floor from splashing and bowl flippers
• Clean colors to choose from
• Absolutely excellent reviews (more than 2,500 five star reviews)

Cons

• Shaped like a bone (but I promise your cat won’t mind)
• It may be better to keep your cat’s water and food separate

#2 Ethical Stoneware Crock Dog Dish

• Pet food bowl for food, treats, and water
• Heavy ceramic prevents slipping and tipping
• Dishwasher and microwave safe for easy cleaning
• Classic design fits any home decor

$18.46

BUY ON AMAZON

Note: Ethical occasionally runs out of stock of the 9.5-inch bowl that I'm recommending here. If that's the case, consider checking out the 7.5-inch bowl which still weighs almost 2 pounds. You can see the 7.5-inch bowl on Amazon by clicking here.  

This simple heavy ceramic bowl does the job when it comes to preventing your cat from tipping its water bowl. I've specifically selected the 9.5-inch bowl since it weighs in at 3.3 pounds which should be more than enough to prevent your kitty from causing an aquatic catastrophe. While this simple bowl isn't going to be winning any beauty contests, it will definitely get the job done!

Pros

• Low price
• Clean and simple design

Cons

• Limited protection against splashing
• Lower water capacity means you’ll need to refill frequently especially with multiple cats or cat and dogs

#3 Catit Flower Water Fountain

• Cat fountain with 3 flow settings
• Holds 3L, compact design
• Includes filter and pump
• BPA-free materials
• Matches Catit Multi Feeder

$27.99

BUY ON AMAZON

We love this water bowl! Not only does it have a super cute design but it’s great for cats that like to try and splash their water. 

Why? 

Because this fountain style water bowl limits that amount of water available at any point. Instead, the water is held in a reservoir (up to 3L) and slowly cycled out. Not only is this great for cats that like to try and flip, tip, or splash around their water bowls it can also encourage cats to drink! 

So cats really prefer running water and the Catit Flower Water Fountain simulates this with three flow settings. If your cat is constantly trying to drink from the water facet there’s a chance they’ll love this. In fact, Hills actually suggests that cats prefer running water because it's more likely to be clean. This would have be critical for your cat's ancient ancestors. 

While it might be possible to tip over, it would be difficult to do. The product weighs over a pound and with the 3L water capacity will weigh much more. 

We love the flower feature on this bowl which acts as a spout for the water. Not only that, but you can also add or take away parts of the flower to increase or decrease water flow. Very clever!

Finally, the fountain actually filters your cat’s water with three types of filters (including a carbon filter). 

The only downside? 

If your cat is a particularly shy guy or easily startled then this fountain may not work. That will be a rare cat as this product currently has over 9,000 five star reviews. 

Pros

• Over 9,000 five star reviews
• Cute and clever design
• Great price even though it’s a water fountain style water bowl
• Low splash potential as only a limited amount of water is available at any time
• Limited chance of flipping due to weight and overall size

Cons

• The gentle electric hum might frighten some sensitive kitties

#4 Necoichi Raised Stress Free Cat Water Bowl

This uniquely designed water bowl is intended to make drinking (or eating) more comfortable for your cat by raising the bowl to them. This feature is pretty common in the dog world with a huge market for elevated bowls for big dogs. But when it comes to cat’s it’s a lot less common. 

Having an elevated bowl is about more than comfort alone. It’s been suggested that in some cats an elevated water bowl decreases the chance of vomiting since your cat no longer has lowered their head significantly to reach the water. The same could be said about food bowls, too. 

We think this bowl from Necoichi is the best-raised cat bowl on the market but it also meets our requirements for cat water bowls that won’t tip over or encourage splashing. Coming in at just under one pound (15 ounces to be exact) this water bowl is hefty enough that most cats will have trouble tipping it over. 

Additionally, this bowl has a small, subtle inner lip along the bowl that helps prevent water spilling out. Since the bowl is elevated, your cat will also have some trouble getting the right leverage to splash the water around. 

That means this bowl could be a great fit for both the flippers and the splashers!

There’s one additional feature that we love, too. You might already know, but cats are notoriously bad at keeping themselves hydrated so it can be worthwhile to track your cat’s drinking habits. The Necoichi bowl makes this easy with multiple millimeter measurements inside the bowl. 

Pros

• Elevated bowls make it more comfortable for your cat to drink and may prevent vomiting in some cats
• Cute designs that are much more stylish than many cat bowls
• The extra lip along the rim and the elevated height make splashing a lot less likely. 

Cons

• It’s not as heavy as some other bowls and though it isn’t likely a determine feline might be able to flip this bowl

Best Cat Water Bowls That Won't Tip Over Buyer’s Guide and FAQ

Drinking water is extremely important for your cat's health but instead of drinking some cats prefer to splish, splash, and flip their water bowl. That certainly doesn’t help when you consider that many cats already drink enough water! 

There are a lot of water bowls on the market already. More than enough to leave a cat owner feeling confused, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Not to mention that if you’re looking for something spill proof or less likely to be tipped over you’ve got double the research to do! 

We’ve got you covered! You can refer to our selections above which will show you the best water bowls that won’t tip over. But if want to do more research on your own we’ve put together a complete buyer’s guide and FAQ that will help you not only find the best spill proof cat water bowl but also understand what makes it great. 

Here are a few things you need to consider.

What Does Your Cat Prefer In A Water Bowl? 

Every cat is different and has their own special personality! That also means they have their own unique preferences, likes, and dislikes. So when deciding which spill proof cat bowl is best for your cat, ask yourself what your cat already likes. 

Does your cat prefer to track down standing water? Then a standard bowl style is probably a safe bet. 

Does your cat literally jump at the chance to drink from the sink? Then a fountain might be the best option for our furry feline friend. 

Does your cat show any signs of whisker fatigue or discomfort at the water bowl? Then you may want to look at our whisker relief cat bowl article. 

Setting Quality Standards

When you research the best cat water bowls, you’ll want to establish a standard for quality. Are you open to plastic bowls or are you committed to stainless steel? We’re going to talk a lot more about cat water bowl materials but it’s important to start thinking about it now. 

Also worth noting, never settle for plastic that contains BPA. None of the top selections on our list above include BPA and it’s important to check. Realize that manufacturer aren’t going to 

Budget 

Cat water bowls cost money! And if you’re looking for a high-quality material (like stainless steel) you’re going to have to be ready to pay extra. Still, it’s not an overall expensive item and it has the chance to last you several years!

Ease Of Cleaning

How easy is it to actually clean the water bowl? If you’re going for something such as the fountain bowl we’ve featured you need to be ready to spend time cleaning the more intricate parts and replacing filters. 

On the other hand, if you’ve got a dishwasher safe bowl (like the ones we’ve shown here) you’ll simply need to throw it into the dishwasher and call it day!

Weight 

Since we’re looking at cat water bowls that won’t tip over or spill, the weight of the bowl becomes very important! To make things easy, we’ve listed the weight of all the bowls we’ve selected above. 

Types Of Spill Proof Cat Water Bowls

While it might seem like there’s an endless number of cat water bowls, there are really three main types of cat water bowls on the market. Each of these groups has styles within them that won’t spill. 

Standard Cat Water Dish

This is your tried and true standard water bowl. Nothing fancy here but you do have a wide range of styles and material to choose from. In most cases, you don’t need anything more than this. But if your cat loves to tip his water bowl you may need a bowl with a little more heft to it. 

Water Fountain Style

In nature, running water is generally safer and healthier to drink when compared to standing water (like you’d find in a standard water dish). That may be why some cats prefer running water over standing water. 

If that’s the case, then the water fountain style bowl is perfect! These fountains use a small, quiet (and safe) motor to keep the water running. Many of these fountains also feature a water filter to not only keep the water moving but also clean and fresh! 

These fountains are also surprisingly affordable and many are heavy enough to prevent your cat from tipping it over or spilling it. 

Elevated Water Bowls

While most bowls could become elevated there are some that are specially designed to provide an elevated platform for your cat to drink from. We selected the Necoichi Raised Stress Free Cat Water Bowl which is both elevated to make it more comfortable for your cat to drink from but also heavy enough to prevent spills. 

Elevated bowls can also decrease the chances of your cat splashing in their water as the bowl is a little hard to reach! 

Frequently Asked Questions

At this point, you’ve probably realized there’s a lot to consider when picking out a great spill proof water bowl for your cats. 

Which means you may have questions! We’ve done our best to put together the most common questions we get. With the answers of course! 

Q: Is ceramic or stainless steel better for cats? 

Stainless steel cat bowls are the clear winner when compared to ceramic (or plastic for that matter). Stainless steel is germ resistant since bacteria can’t enter the non-porous surface. Ceramic on the other hand can chip and crack creating a safe place for bacteria to breed. 

Q: Are plastic bowls okay for cats? 

Plastic bowls will always be the least expensive option but these bowls can quickly develop blemishes and scratches which will become a safe place for bacteria to breed. Plastic can be okay, just be prepared to replace the bowl quickly and always make sure it’s BPA free. 

But when it comes to cat water bowls that won’t tip over, plastic may not be your best option since it simply doesn’t carry the same weight as the ceramic or steel options. 

See Also: Why Do Cats Like To Sit On Plastic Bags

Q: How do I get my cat to stop tipping over his water bowl?

The easiest solution to purchase a heavier bowl that your cat can’t tip over. The typical plastic or lightweight stainless steel is nothing more than a toy for most casts! Instead, options for a bowl that weighs at least 1 pound with a wide base to prevent your cat from easily tipping over his water bowl. 

Q: Why does my cat keep tipping over his water bowl?

Every cat is different so exact reasons will vary but some cats may tip over the water bowl because the water isn’t fresh enough. While others may do it for the attention they get from their owners when they do it. The simplest reason is that some cats just think it’s fun! 

Final Thoughts

Cats can have fun with anything- including the simple act of drinking water! While this silliness is one the many reasons we love them it can get frustrating when play causes wet feet and ruined hardwood. 

We’ve presented you with a solid list of cat bowls that won’t tip over or make it easy for your cat to splash around. 

Read Next: Why Does My Cat Sit By The Water Bowl?